I don't know how bad this is or if it is a real threat, but my cousin is for real and doesn't scare easily.<br><br>"THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED BY AT&T.<br><br>DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809<br><br>This one is being distributed all over the US. This is pretty<br>scary, especially given the way they try to get you to call. Be<br>sure you read this and pass it on to all your friends and family so<br>they don't get scammed!<br><br>MAJOR SCAM:<br><br>Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web pages which tell you<br>to call an "809" Phone Number. This is a very important issue of<br>Scam Busters because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading<br>*extremely* quickly can easily cost you $2400 or more, and is<br>difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it. We'd like to thank<br>Verizon for bringing this scam to our attention. This scam has also<br>been identified by the National Fraud Information Center and is<br>costing victims a lots of money. There are lots of different<br>permutations of this scam.<br><br>HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:<br><br>You will receive a message on your answering machine or your pager,<br>which asks you to call a number beginning with area code 809. The<br>reason you're asked to call varies. It can be to receive<br>information about a family member who has been ill, to tell you<br>someone has been arrested, died, to let you know you have won a<br>wonderful prize, etc. In each case, you are told to call the 809<br>number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these<br>days, people unknowingly return these calls.<br><br>If you call from the US, you will apparently be charged $2425<br>per-minute. Or, you'll get a long recorded message. The point is,<br>They will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible to<br><br>increase the charges. Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill,<br><br>you'll often be charged more than $24,100.00.<br><br><br><br>WHY IT WORKS:<br><br><br>> >>The 809 area code is located in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. The 809<br><br>area code can be used as a "pay-per-call" number, similar to 900<br><br>numbers in the US. Since 809 is not in the US, it is not covered by<br>U.S. regulations of 900 numbers, which require that you be notified<br>and warned of charges and rates involved when you call a<br>"pay-per-call" number.<br><br>There is also no requirement that the company provide a time period<br>during which you may terminate the call without being charged.<br>Further, whereas many U.S. homes that have 900 number blocking to<br>avoid these kinds of charges, do not work in preventing calls to<br>the 809 area code. We recommend that no matter how you get the<br>message, if you are asked to call a number with an 809 area code<br>that you don't recognize just disregard the message. Be wary of<br>email or calls asking you to call an 809 area code number. It's<br>> >>important to prevent becoming a victim of this scam, since trying<br>to fight the charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. That's<br>because you did actually make the call. If you complain, both your<br>local phone company and your long distance carrier will not want to<br>get involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply<br>>providing the billing for! the foreign company. You'll end up<br>dealing with a foreign company that argues they have done nothing<br>wrong.<br><br>Please forward this entire message to your friends, family and<br>colleagues to help them become aware of this scam.<br><br>Sandi Van Handel<br><br>AT&T Field Service Manager<br><br>(920) 687-904<br>> >><br>> >>Additional information can be obtained from the following AT&T Web Site<br><http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html>http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html"<br><br>It may be old news and if it is, let me know and I will delete the post.<br><br><br><br>

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